Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Bujarski, Jozef J.

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Biological Sciences

LCSH

Virology; Molecular biology; Biochemistry; Plant viruses; Plants--Disease and pest resistance

Abstract

Virus-host interactions are complex and have been a driving force of the everlasting evolutionary progress of both virus and host. Ever since the first virus infection took place, it has been an arms race of defense and counter defense between virus and host. To further uncover the underpinnings of this arms race, plant RNA viruses were utilized to uncover the mechanisms of virus-host interactions. Three projects were chosen that focus on different aspects of the viral interaction. Specifically, three separate projects investigated viral-host relationships in suppression activities of the viral proteins, coat protein's trans effect on recombination, and co-encapsidation of host-RNA. The first project focused on the host effect on the virus through the RNA silencing system that can degrade viral RNA. Additionally, the possibility that virus-host interactions might provide an evolutionary advantage in favor of the host was investigated.

Comments

Advisors: Jozef J. Bujarski.||Committee members: Barrie P. Bode; Gabriel P. Holbrook; Richard B. King; Shengde Zhou.

Extent

113 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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